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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Introduction and overview of DSNY's FY2026 executive budget
0:07:49
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111 sec
Commissioner Javier Lojan introduces himself and provides an overview of the Department of Sanitation's role and the FY2026 executive budget allocations for street cleanliness programs. He emphasizes the mayor's commitment to clean streets and the shift towards baseline funding for key initiatives.
- The FY2026 executive budget is referred to as the 'best budget ever'
- Baseline funding is allocated for litter basket service, park perimeter cleaning, and other cleanliness programs
- The budget aims to move beyond political posturing and ensure consistent funding for cleanliness initiatives
Javier Lojan
0:07:49
Good morning chair Brau, chair Brannan, and members of the committees on sanitation and solid waste management and finance.
0:07:55
I am Javier Lojon, acting commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, and I am joined today by Joseph Antonelli, our deputy commissioner of management and budget, and by Joshua Goodman, our deputy commissioner of public affairs and customer experience.
0:08:08
The Department of Sanitation serves every part of the city, and I'm in my twenty six years here.
0:08:13
I've seen thousands of sanitation workers take pride in the clean street.
0:08:17
But as you all know, historically, key cleanliness programs like litter basket service had been subject to a budget dance between the mayor and his council in which funding levels were set year to year based on political considerations.
0:08:29
This creates doubt both among the public and within the department about the service we can't provide.
0:08:34
Instead, as part of the fiscal year twenty twenty six executive budget, better known to New Yorkers as the best budget ever, mayor Adams has once again proven himself to be a staunch and unflinching advocate of clean streets, this time by committing to move beyond decades of political posturing around street cleanliness and allocating resources to get stuff clean, not just this year, not just at the handshake, not just for a photo op, but baseline, which means forever.
0:09:01
This budget includes funding to continue the current level current level of litter basket pickups citywide, 29,700,000 growing to 31,000,000 in f y '28 baselines.
0:09:12
This is likely the highest baseline level of funding for litter basket service in history.
0:09:17
Basket service in particular had been often negotiated year to year at the last minute, and decreases had led directly to more overflowing baskets and more rats.
0:09:28
The mayor's budget also baselines 1,400,000.0 to support positions dedicated to cleaning park perimeters, something that had been part of the Get Stuff Clean initiative and will now continue permanently.